The Best Anti-Aging Lotions "Add Intense Moisture and Shine"—Here Are 10 to Try

Kelly Dawson is a writer and editor who focuses on architecture, interior design, and culture. She regularly contributes to Architectural Digest's vertical Clever and Domino, and she's been writing for Dwell Magazine since 2015.

In Nora Ephron’s famous essay “I Feel Bad About My Neck,” she writes one witty but pointed line in her knowing humor about why she’s uncomfortable about this particular body part. “Our faces, our lies, and our necks are the truth,” she muses. In Ephron’s eyes, there’s not much beyond surgery and strategic clothing that can hide this fact. But what if lotions were able to trick time from the chin down? Enter: a new approach to skincare.

“We often overlook body skin, which is a mistake, especially on the neck, the décolletage, and the backs of the hands,” says Jennifer Herrmann, a Beverly Hills dermatologist. “Many of my 50- and 60-year-old patients are more bothered by their loose neck skin than by lines and wrinkles on their faces.”

While there’s not much to be done about the general aging process, perhaps Herrmann’s tips for smoother skin at any age can push off Ephron’s recommendation (wearing a turtleneck) for now. Preventing sun damage early on is key, so Herrmann says those in their 20s and 30s should start slathering on body creams containing an SPF of at least 30 as soon as possible. Dryness should be the main concern of older women’s skincare routines, especially those in their 50s and 60s, so Jennifer says that products with lactic acid will help remove that flaky layer.

Seal in extra moisture with lotion right after a shower, she notes, preferably one that’s lukewarm.

“Ideally, body creams should contain SPF if used for areas that are frequently sun-exposed, and depending on how dry the skin is, varying degrees of oil, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, lactic acid, and ceramides help, too,” she says.

Herrmann opts for cream-based products over water-based ones. “The body requires heavier cream-based products to really seal in moisture and leave the skin feeling soft and hydrated,” she says. Naturally, we asked for her favorites, and most of them will cost less than a cozy, if not concealing, sweater.

“A combination of DNA repair enzymes, peptides, and botanicals work together to target and repair damage at the DNA level,” Herrmann says. “This helps to restore healthy skin and minimize the signs of aging. It’s a perfect product to use on the neck and chest.”

“A little goes a long way,” she recommends. “This balm has a combination of shea, cocoa, and mango butters as well as argan oil and vitamin E, which all add intense moisture and shine for the driest skin.”

“Hyaluronic acid binds water and gives skin a dewy look,” Jennifer says. “This product is inexpensive and great for continuous layering throughout the day on thinner skin areas like the neck. It’s soothing and can help mitigate the dryness and redness caused by other anti-aging products, like retinoids.”

Last but not least comes a brand we all know and love, but in a new form.

“For intensely dry, flaking skin, Aquaphor has recently been formulated into a spray for easier application over larger areas like the back and legs, instantly transforming their smoothness without the sticky, greasy application by hand,” Herrmann notes.